Measuring tape



Jan. 11, 1938. A, w KEUFFEL 2,105,149.

MEASURING TAPE Filed March 14, 1936 INVENTOR Y ADOLF Ml KEUFFEL ATTORNEYS v Patented Jan. 11, 1938 means MEASURING TAPE Adolf W. Keufiel, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Keuflel & Esser Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 14, 1936, Serial No. 68,840

6 Claims.

, This invention relates to improvements in end loop construction forband chains and steel tapes. I

It has been proposed to provide an end loop construction of a reversely bent ribbon of metal between the extremities of which the end of the band chain or tape is disposed and clamped as by rivets. Such construction has been found to possess the common fault that the band or tape breaks at the edge of the extremity of the end loop because of the fact that one portion of the tape is held rigidly between the extremities of the end loop while the rest of the tape is free to flex with respect thereto.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the tendency of the band chain or tape to break at the edge of the end loop. Accordingly, the bending of the band chain or tape at the edge of the end loop is retarded. More particularly, this retardation is accomplished by yieldingly opposingthe bending, preferably by yieldingly engaging the band or tape for a short distance from the edge of the end 1001).

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the passage of the end of a band chain or tape through the brush as when it is dragged along the ground. In carrying this aspect of the invention into effect, strips of spring steel are secured upon opposite sides of the band or tape where it is engaged between the extremities of the end loop and these resilient strips extend beyond the extremities of the end loop and are bent at their endstoWard-the band or tape so as to normally engage the same only by their end edges. The tape can thus be flexed in either direction and at all times the free ends of the resilient strips will be in contact with the tape.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating embodiments by which the inventionnmay be realized and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the end loop of a steel tape in one of the stages of its manufacture; V

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one of the pieces of spring steel which is used to oppose the breaking of the tape;

Figure 3 is a side view of one form taken by the invention in which the pieces opposing breaking of the tape are plane members;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of Figures 1 and 2 in assembled position;

Figure 5 is a View in side elevation showing the operation of the spring members in opposing the flexing of the tape; and

Figure 6 is a View in side elevation showing another modification of the invention.

For convenience, a band chain or any other ribbon of steel'or equivalent material, the breaking of which is to be prevented at its juncture with a relatively inflexible part will hereinafter be termed a tape.

In one modification of the invention, the end loop is conveniently stamped or otherwise formed from a strip of metallic material havinga cross section such as indicated at the end 5 of the member shown in Figure 1. Intermediate its ends, the edges are conveniently out out, as at 6, and thereafter holes I are formed for the rivets 8 (Figure 3). The end loop is then reversely bent so that the extremities 9 are adjacent to each other in spaced relation with the holes I in register.

In one simple form of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, two spring pieces ll), each conveniently of a plane strip or ribbon of resilient material, such as steel, are provided, each of a width substantially that of the tape ll. One end of each of these spring strips it is formed with holes (not shown) adapted to register with theholes of the end loop 59. The end Iii of the'tape I1 is inserted between the extremities 9 of the end loop and the perforated end of a strip I0 is interposed on each side between the tape end it and the extremity 9 and secured tightly together by means of the rivets 8, as shown in Figure 3. The length of the spring pieces Ill is so selected that the pieces ill extend beyond the fixed edges 5 a suificient distance to yieldingly oppose bending of the tape about the abutment 5 where an unreeniorced tape frequently breaks.

In some situations when the tape is flexed to one side with respect to the end loop, the spring end I!) on the side opposite that toward which the tape is flexed will stand out straight (in a plane) and may catch in twigs or bushes as the tape is moved along through the brush. In the construction shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, this possibility is obviated.

Two spring pieces I l are formed as shown in Figure 2 each conveniently of a strip of resilient material, such as steel. One end of a spring piece I I is preferably bent upwardly on a curve, as shown at [3. It is provided with holes l5 adapted to register with the holes i of the end loop 5-9. The end 16 of the steel tape II is inserted between the extremities 9.

This end I6 is also 55 perforated with holes, not shown, to register with the holes I of the end loop. On the opposite sides, between the tape IT and the respective extremities 9, are disposed the spring members ll so arranged that the ends l3 are deflected toward the tape. When the extremities 9, leaf springs I l and the tape end 16 are clamped tightly together by means of the rivets 8, as shown in Figure 3, the spring pieces II will yieldingly'engage the tape for a distance from the edge of the end loop. The curved spring ends 13 will be so disposed as to be deflected or bowed outwardly from the tape IT to engage the tape substantially only at their ends I.

It will be readily apparent that when the tape H is flexed, as shown in Figure 5, the spring end I3 on the side toward which the tape is flexed will yieldingly oppose the flexing and cause the tape to bend on an arc of relatively long radius, thus preventing the tape from making a sharp angular bend at the edge 5 of the end loop extremity 9 which might cause it to break on that line, while the spring end l3 on the opposite side will follow the contour of the tape as it flexes and no opening will ever be present between a spring end l4 and the tape I, in which twigs, brush, grass, wire or other obstruction can be caught.

The resilient members opposing or retarding flexing of the tape need not necessarily be formed as separate elements. An end loop 20, which may be made of a material which when in thin plates has the desired degree of resiliency, is shown in Figure 6. The extremity portions 22 are relatively rigid because of their thickness, while spring-like flexible portions 24 protrude therefrom. The tape end 16 is clamped between the rigid portions 22 by rivets 8. The portions 24 extend a suflicient distance beyond the rigid portions 22 and yieldingly engage the opposite sides of the tape I! to oppose flexing proximate the thicker portions 22.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the instrumentalities by which the tape is prevented from breaking at or about the plane of the edge of the rigid part as well as in the use to which the invention may be put, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawing, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop having extremities, an

end of a tape disposed between the extremities of the end loop and opposed resilient spring strips between the tape and the respective extremities the free ends of which have a normal position on the opposite side of the tape tending to oppose and follow flexing movement of the tape with respect to the extremities.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop having extremities, an end of a tape disposed between the extremities of the end loop and resilient strips disposed between the tape and the respective extremities and extending therewithout under tension toward and engaging the tape to oppose and follow flexing thereof in both directions.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop having extremities, an end of the tape disposed between the extremities of the end loop and resilient strips of steel disposed between the tape and the extremities, respectively, and extending therewithout, said strips being bent and under tension towards the tape to oppose and follow movement thereof.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop having extremities, an end of a tape disposed between the extremities of the end loop and resilient strips of steel disposed between the tape and the extremities, respectively, and extending therewithout and curved towards the tape to oppose movement thereof the ends of the resilient strips of steel having a normal position opposite the plane of the tape.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop having extremities, an end of a tape disposed between the extremities of the end loop and resilient strips of steel disposed between the tape and the extremities, respectively, and extending therewithout, said strips being curved towards the tape, the free extremities of the strips having a normal position opposite the plane of the tape and engaging the tape to oppose movement thereof.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, an end loop between the extremities of which the tape end is disposed, said end loop having extremities comprising, respectively, relatively rigid portions and relatively resilient portions on both sides of the tape, the free end of each resilient portion having a normal posi tion on the opposite side of the tape, said resilient portions respectively opposing and following flexing movement of the tape.

7 ADOLF W. KEUFFEL. 

